HER ROYAL SHYNESS
Caring George soothes Charlotte’s fears on first day at school
EXCITED but unmistakably nervous, Princess Charlotte arrived for her first day at school yesterday.
With her parents and brother George by her side, the four-year-old was driven to Thomas’s Battersea by Prince William in the family’s Land Rover Discovery just after 8.15am.
Charlotte’s first day was in stark contrast to George’s at the £6,000-a-term south London school two years ago.
His mother Kate – pregnant with her third child Prince Louis – was at home suffering from acute morning sickness so it fell to William to take George on the school run.
Charlotte wore what the school calls the transitional uniform of a blue pinafore, with a white summer blouse, black shoes and white socks.
If her parents felt a surge of satisfaction, it was because their daughter’s first day was relatively low-key.
Confident
It was recorded by a small group of journalists compared to the media scrum at William’s, when he was dropped off by his mother, Diana, Princess ofWales.
Charlotte was driven up to a side entrance of the school – which has a “no best friends” policy – while other pupils accompanied by their parents went in through the front.
As the Cambridges walked from the car, Charlotte, normally much more confident than George, clung to her mother and held back. But she soon managed a wave.
The family was greeted by head of the lower school Helen Haslem, who shook hands with George and Charlotte.
As Charlotte flicked her ponytail and cast a suspicious glance at the media and Palace press corps,William told Ms Haslem: “First day – very excited.”
Kate asked her: “How are you? Did you have a nice summer?”
William and Kate took Charlotte to her classroom – she is in a class of 21, one of three reception classes in her year – to meet her teacher and settle her in. The new royal pupil will be known as Charlotte Cambridge, just as George, six, is George Cambridge. Charlotte has another friendly face at the school, her cousin Maud, daughter of Prince Michael of Kent’s son Lord Freddie Windsor. She is in the same year as George.
Charlotte will start by doing halfdays at Thomas’s.
The school, where children are taught that kindness is as important as academic success, currently admits children aged four to 13, but is planning to open a senior school for pupils up to the age of 18.
Thomas’s, set in the Grade II-listed former Sir Walter St John’s Grammar School which dates back to 1700, has a policy of “no best friends” and an emphasis on the arts and sport.
Describing itself as a Christian school open to children of all faiths, it believes in “praise as the greatest motivator”.
Art, ballet, drama, information and communications technology, French, music and physical education are taught from day one.
Last month US TV presenter Lara Spencer had to apologise after her comments about George’s ballet lessons caused a social media backlash.
She told ABC’s Good Morning America that William had said his son “absolutely loves ballet”, then remarked: “I have news for you, PrinceWilliam: we’ll see how long that lasts,” adding: “I mean, he might.”
The Cambridges will be entitled to a discount for having a second sibling at the school, with annual fees reduced from £19,287 to £18,915.
In May, Thomas’s headteacher, Simon O’Malley, said the school was “delighted” that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were sending Charlotte there and “we greatly look forward to welcoming her and all of our new pupils in September”.
Thomas’s is part of a group of independent, co-educational preparatory schools in Clapham, Fulham and Kensington.
THE Johnson family rift was clear for all to see, so in contrast it was wonderful to see this country’s first family sharing a joyous moment. Princess Charlotte’s first day at school with her proud parents and brother accompanying her warmed the heart.
Parents across the country know exactly how that first day at school for their children feels like as their little ones take a big step in growing up.